Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Nothing is impossible - Anand Kumar Says so

When you want it that much more...

All the poor Bihar kids in the Super 30, got into IIT, this year. What is the secret?

Nagendra, 18, the son of a sweeper, studied in the free government village school and was always 'first' in class. He hated the sight of seeing his father cleaning sewers and vowed he wouldn't do that. Borrowed Rs. 60 to buy the Super 30 application form, to join Ramanujam School of Mathematics.

Satish Kumar, 18, who lives in a slum, with his widowed mother, says, ' I had resolved to overcome every obstacle that came my way to rise to the top'. He too, is a student of this School.

The names of children like these - all the 30 of them - who wrote the IIT JEE exam this year, from this school, appeared alongside India's highest scorers, giving them automatic entry into any of the IIT's, considered the nation's premier temples of higher learning, entry into which is also still regarded as a prerogative of the privileged.I read about Anand Kumar in 'India Today' magazine, some 10 years back, in their 'People with a difference' - if I remember correctly - one page article, which portraits individuals who do something to benefit the local people. He is a mathematics teacher and columnist for various national and international science journals and magazines. He remembers all too clearly that he had to fight hard just to get to use the superior mathematical ability, he realised, he possessed early on in life. 'The Super 30 was born with this idea in mind' explains Anand, who had started the Ramanujam School of Mathematics in the mid-90's.

He wants to ensure that not a single underprivileged boy or girl in Bihar (with exceptional intelligence) is deprived of an opportunity to get ahead because of their lower social and economic condition. Coming from a poor family which depended at one time, on door-to-door sales of homemade 'papads' as its only source of income, Anand is aware that to be born with an extraordinary intelligence quotient alone does not guarantee success in life.

The school is located on the fringes of Patna, beyond the bumpy Bihar roads, past stretches of a treeless landscape with pavement huts and congested slums. The students, who come here to attend classes from Patna and also from faraway villages, make the journey every day by bus, on bicycles or even on foot. Those who stay in the hostels are provided free food and lodging.No air-conditioned class rooms! No exorbitant fees! But the result is 100% because of the hard work by the students and the teachers.

This article and the photograph is from the current issue of 'Outlook' magazine.

I had read an article in 'Times of India', that nearly 42% of this year's JEE rank holders, did not attend any coaching classes. But did not come across this news about the slum children's ' IIT dream come true', that too, from Bihar! Let Anand Kumar's children shine and bring happiness to him and all of us.

Edited to add: This is an old article about this school, but interesting.

Edited to add on 26.5.11: This article says: This year, a Truck Driver's son has cracked IIT JEE!

indeahforever: Now he has become famous and I think if any discrepancy, which is negative, is there, will come out via our media hounds!

I feel it is not entirely wrong if he charges a hefty sum for people who can afford to pay. He might be using that money to run this school. Some doctors charge a lot for well-off people, as their fee, to help needy people. My relative, who is quite famous, does this. He has got a small clinic to treat them free of cost. I know one gynae also, who has got a separate clinic, for needy people, here in Chennai.

I feel happy when I read this type of articles. Manju also has posted one about Manjunath Integrity award, which acknowledges this type of unique people - http://indiancabbagesandkings.blogspot.com/2009/06/remembering-manjunath-shanmugam.html

Manju: Again, this news was not aired in any channel! I have not seen Anand Kumar's interview - but we see all the negative news, being highlighted in each and every channel. In one way, it is good, Anand Kumar can continue his good work without much interference by media or political people (some party will give him a ticket for the next election, if he becomes famous!)

Sai: Yes, Sai. Hard work always pays! It is nice to know that some people are there, who care for others. Some people just sit and appreciate and I am one of them. Am not feeling good to admit that, though, Sai.

Didn't know much about anand kumar but i salute him for what is doing :)

As sai said hardword always pays.This reminded of my aunty,she has 5 kids and she was not able to afford good schools,they all went to a muncipal school and one of the girl scored 11th rank in state tenth board and all the 5 kids are in USA and all r engineers :)

This is truly inspiring! Even if Anand Kumar is corrupt - I don't care - as far as he is doing some good too - which he clearly seems to be.. If he charges a lot from students who can afford it - I think it is fine because he is making a difference..

Kanagu: Don't know whether they would be able to cope up the IIT curriculam, but the children have taken a bold step forward with sheer hard work and we should appreciate Anand Kumar, to even think of training these children.

hitchwriter: This news did not come in Hindu or Times of India, as far as I know, I might be wrong. Did you read the Outlook article? Really amazing. He must have struggled a lot for getting this result. His family? Did he spend any time with his family. We don't know anything about his family background!

Sandhya.....a very inspirational and motivating story.....if one decides to do something good for others,no mater how adverse are the conditions,it is possible....i salute this lesser known national-hero and all his students.Thanks for sharing this amazing story.

Thanks for your comments...i have answered your question in my post...please wait till next month for this interesting story.

Very inspiring indeed! It is heartening to know that people like Anand Kumar exist! Even in my college, there are many Bihari students who come from poor and uneducated families. Most of them are very intelligent ,are the first graduates in the family and have very big ambitions. Their thirst for knowledge is simply mind blowing!

kanagu: I hope so!All the hard work they have done, should bring good results and they should come up well to prove anybody, who thinks they don't have the facilities to join good colleges, etc. These children are examples of sheer hard work and sincerity to reach their goal.

kanagu: I hope so!All the hard work they have done, should bring good results and they should come up well to prove anybody, who thinks they don't have the facilities to join good colleges, etc. These children are examples of sheer hard work and sincerity to reach their goal.

Sharu: Biharis are getting luckier now - they have got Anand Kumar and his students too, to continue to help others. This came in the prog. about them in Discovery. The students are devoted students like their teacher. And the Biharis have got a good CM now, Nitish Kumar! Good time for Biharis!

hello, i got your url from kavita (my room). i recently did a post on anand kumar and she mentioned you did a post on him too. great post! we need more people like him in the world. here is a link to my blog post about him, http://tinyurl.com/lqzuk3.

the name of my blog is Homebody Blogger and my direct link is, www.homebodyblogger.com. feel free to leave a few comments, become a follower, or pass my link along to others.